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Marisa Keegan started the petition on Friday calling for Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf to review the case.

On the petition page, she wrote: "Our system is putting criminals' careers before our children's welfare.

"What kind of world do we live in that this is seen as an acceptable decision by the court ?"

She added: "This decision is wrong. This sets an example for other sexual offenders and for sexual assault victims of what can happen if they come forward."

By Saturday evening, more than 2,500 people had signed the petition.

Daniel was 15 when he began abusing his young victim in 2016.

The Justice Office for Scotland statement said: “In light of the evidence as to the immaturity of the accused, and the nature of the discussion during which he admitted his actions, the sheriff considered the offence to be the result of an entirely inappropriate curiosity of an emotionally naive teenager rather than for the purpose of sexual gratification.

"The accused had appeared both noticeably immature and socially awkward, features confirmed by other evidence in the case.

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"It was fortunate that the complainer appeared to have suffered no injury or long lasting effects."

It said any recorded conviction for the offence would have "serious consequences in terms of the accused's future career" and any sentence would mean Daniel would "probably be unable to continue his university course".

But the mum of Daniel’s victim said she was “gobsmacked” by the decision to grant her attacker an absolute discharge at Dumbarton Sheriff Court – meaning the student does not have a criminal record and was not put on the sex offenders’ register.

She said: “We don’t want him locked up but he should be put on the sex offenders’ register.

“As we suspected, the sheriff also confirms his career was deemed to be more important. So if he had not done as well in his exams at school, he would have been put on the sex offenders’ register?”

Ms Sturgeon said: "I absolutely understand the concerns that have been expressed about what has been reported about this sentence, but the sentencing decision in any criminal case is entirely a matter for the judge.

"The judiciary acts entirely independently on the basis of the facts and circumstances of individual cases. They will take into account a wide range of factors, including the age of the offender and any previous convictions.

"I understand the concerns, but we must protect the principle in this country that sentencing decisions are not a matter for politicians, however controversial and difficult they can be for the public. Sentencing decisions are rightly and properly matters for judges."